IT'S A TAY HAM + SLEEPY MOUNTAIN SLUMBER PARTY!

Have you ever been to Sleepy Mountain? It's a wondrous land of cute earrings and pins of your favorite things! Lying somewhere between drowsy and roused, the brand evokes images of cozy chamomile teatime in wingback chairs, delicious naps on flannel sheets and late night pastel-infused movie marathons in front of a roaring fire. It's a wearable state of consciousness, really, and we're trying v hard not to leave.

Dreamed alive by owner and artist, Thais Marchese, Sleepy Mountain has been killing it softly since 2010 with an extensive collection of earrings, cufflinks, stickers, patches, magnets, and enamel pins. The subject matter ranges from favorite food items to tiny pop culture people heads in blissful states of slumber.

This week Tay Ham and Sleepy Mountain are snuggling up for a little giveaway, so we thought we'd get to know our host a little better with a few Internet campfire Qs. Enjoy!

TAY HAM:You live in the Pacific Northwest - a real life magical realm! How does it inspire your work?

SLEEPY MOUNTAIN: I’ve lived in a lot of places (Philly, Portland (ME), Rhode Island, 6 different Florida cities, Brazil, etc). The PNW is the only place that has ever felt like “home”. I’m amazed by everything I see everyday like it’s new. It’s just something about the trees …

I have many PNW inspired items like mountain earrings and pins, a Haystack Rock pin, and I will be releasing 2 Washington pins in the coming weeks!

TH: How did you come by the name Sleepy Mountain? What does it mean to you?

SM:The name was simple. My love for naps and my love for mountains!

Sleepy Mountain is more than just the name of my business, it's the culmination of everything I've done to get to where I am right now.

TH: Some of your notable muses include David Lynch, Kurt Vonnegut and Wes Anderson. What do they mean to you?

SM: I spent a lot of time alone growing up. I moved a lot and this made it hard to keep friends. So books, movies & music were a big part of my life. My favorite characters have - in a way - become my friends. The works of these artists just resonated with me in a way that's hard to explain but I'm forever grateful. They instilled in me the desire and the love of creating art.

TH: What's your favorite Wes Anderson film? Which character would you most like to wear Sleepy Mountain?

SM: Every time I watch a Wes Anderson film I think “that’s my favorite Wes Anderson film!” But it always comes back to The Life Aquatic. I connected with it immediately the first time I saw it. So, Steve Zissou for sure!

TH: Both Sleepy Mountain and Tay Ham share a love of pop culture icons - which one inspires you most? Who would you take on a cross country trip? Who would you let share your toothbrush?

SM: I’m forever inspired by Wes Anderson. A trip with Bill Murray!

I will never share my toothbrush. No matter what. Ever.

TH: Can you share a bit of your process? It can be anything. Maybe your favorite thing.

SM: When I'm creating a new design that's inspired by a movie I'll usually have the movie playing in the background. It helps me get into the zone.

TH: What kind of music do you play in your studio? Or what do you like to watch while you work?

SM: I’m either listening to endless Spotify playlists (I’m currently into Brothertiger, Tycho, Angel Olsen and I also listen to a lot of soundtracks). OR watching The Office over and over.

TH: What other mediums is Sleepy Mountain looking to transform into, if any?

SM: Mugs and prints. They’re both already available through my Society6, but I’m looking into having more control over them & offering more designs.

TH: As a human, what are you just seriously, personally, currently invested in?